‘A JOURNEY IN THE EAST? 295 
This short rest was followed by a fatiguing climb along a 
narrow mountain-path to Medinet Abu, and again we crossed 
over a miserable stony desert on which the midday sun was 
pouring down with a scorching power. We now had to 
clamber about some steep cliffs, and not until we had tramped 
a long way did we get to the ridge of the hill, and soon after- 
wards to the region of the rock-tombs, and then passing dilapi- 
dated houses, heaps of rubbish, and ruins, all belonging 
to Moslem times, we reached the cultivated country, where 
our donkeys were awaiting us under a shady wall. 
A still longer ride than that of the morning brought us to 
the bank of the Nile past the Colossi of Memnon, which are 
truly imposing and surpass all one’s expectations. Having 
got back to our steamer by boat, we immediately proceeded to 
dine. 
The Arab sportsman had persuaded me to lie in wait again 
‘for beasts of prey near Medinet Abu, so, as soon as dinner 
was over, | took my jager with me and rode back by the long 
road through the cultivated country and past the Colossi to 
that wretched mud-built village, just behind which a pretty 
broad and perfectly level stretch of desert separates the arable 
land from the base of the mountains. . 
Some much-trodden trails, which showed the tracks of 
hyzenas, wolves, and jackals, here ran between the hills and 
the game-frequented lowlands. Near one of these runs I hid 
myself behind some large stones just as the setting sun was 
flooding with its glorious light the desert sands, the high 
rocky mountains, the ruins, and the palms and villages of the 
plains. 
A great tawny Egyptian Hagle-Owl flew noiselessly from 
its dark retreat to look for plunder, and soon afterwards 
appeared a jackal keeping closely to the track. I fired at 
the beast as it came running along unsuspiciously, but it was 
rather far off, and though it rolled over, it immediately got on 
